CD Review | Ricercari (Atma Classique, 2023)

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Ricercari
Cameron Crozman, cello
Atma Classique, September 2023

Ricercar in the singular, ricercari in the plural. These are most often solo instrumental pieces dating from the early baroque period, which are similar in character to Bach’s better-known preludes for solo cello. On Cameron Crozman’s recent album, released by Atma Classique, the cellist pays tribute to another composer: Domenico Gabrielli (1651 or 1659-1690), who wrote seven ricercari in 1689. The performer plays all seven, but intelligently chooses to reorder them so as to make listening as pleasant as possible.

The originality of the project lies in the inclusion of several creations—commissioned by Crozman—by composers of diverse nationalities (Canadian, French, Colombian, American). Paired with the Gabrielli pieces, old and new communicate in a dialogue that is nourishing and constructive. Although dissonant, Alexina Louie’s Quasi Cadenza pairs very well with the third and fifth ricercari. The same goes for Primary Colors by Nina C. Young. These new works have an inspired, introspective character that give them the impression of being improvised on the spot, and complements their distant baroque cousins.

Jordan Pal’s Fleet sheds light on another facet of the ricercari genre: namely the virtuosity of these pieces, which are often used as etudes. Daniel Alvarado Bonilla’s Senderos, on the other hand, seems overly interspersed with silences. The excessive use of brushed strings fail to match up to Gabrielli’s verve. In addition to works by Benoît Sitzia and Kelly-Ann Murphy, Falling Forward, composed by the performer himself, borrows from the baroque style—notably, in the way it utilizes the swelling and fading of pitches. An ambitious, audacious album that nonetheless provides comfort by featuring music that has stood the test of time.